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Kent State Theatre and Dance Students Take Home Top Honors at Conference for Second Consecutive Year

Posted Mar. 24, 2014

Students Margaret Peebles and Cyndi Hoffman place in SETC lighting design competition

The Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) once again recognized two Kent State University School of Theatre and Dance students for excellence in lighting design at this year’s SETC convention held in Mobile, Ala., from March 5-9. This is the second consecutive year that a Kent State student has won first place in the lighting design competition.

Senior B.F.A. student Margaret Peebles won first place in the undergraduate competition for her lighting design for the school’s February 2014 production of Legally Blonde. Last year, Peebles took home third place for her work on 2012’s Big Love. M.F.A. Lighting Design student Cyndi Hoffman won third place in the graduate lighting design competition for her lighting design of April 2013’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Peebles and Hoffman will be recognized in Southern Theatre Magazine for their achievements. Each of them also won a cash prize. Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc. sponsored the lighting design competition.

Several other students also competed and presented during the SETC convention. B.F.A. student David Ruggles competed in the undergraduate lighting design competition, Ben Williams and Ryan Patterson in the graduate scenic design competition, and Susan Williams in the graduate costume design competition. Williams and Patterson also presented a workshop on the use of computer drafting and design applications in scenic renderings.

School of Theatre and Dance faculty members Amy Fritsche and Jakyung Seo also presented during the SETC convention. Fritsche presented two classes on the use of character in auditions and musical theatre dance. Seo presented a workshop on international theatre festivals.

The Southeastern Theatre Conference holds the nation’s largest annual theatre convention. More than 4,000 theatre practitioners attend each year.